‹ Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 159 · All districts' issues
concern
Cost sharing
2 conflict questions
money moved
What agreement sets each district's share of IPS No. 4 operating and repair costs, and who advised each district in the dispute given that SPH represents both?
Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof'l Conduct 1.06 (lawyer conflicts; consent after disclosure); Good practice: a written cost-sharing agreement with an engineer's allocation
The board action behind it
2026-04-20: Approved correspondence to WCID 157 regarding Irrigation Pump Station No. 4 and voided check no. 4037
What else happened at that meeting
The Board approved a Contract Regarding the Financing, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Bridgeland Veterans Memorial Park, listed on the agenda as an agreement with WCID 157. Responding to a WCID 157 letter requesting payment of an October 2024 invoice for Irrigation Pump Station No. 4, it approved a reply letter and voided check no. 4037. The Board adopted a resolution imposing an additional penalty on delinquent real property taxes, designated Irrigation Pump Station No. 5 as a posting location for meeting notices, and approved an affidavit authorizing the Harris County Constable's Office, Precinct 5, to enforce District rules on trespassing and vandalism. It reviewed a proposed operating budget for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027, and the attorney reported that the Utility Development Agreement with TPHTL House Hahl, LLC had been fully executed. The Board met in executive session from 1:46 to 2:11 p.m., with no resulting action.Who's involved
Harris County WCID No. 157 (operator of Irrigation Pump Station No. 4)
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. (SPH) (District general and bond counsel; also counsel to WCID 157, WCID 158, MUDs 418-493 and the Bridgeland Water Agency)
Inframark, LLC (WCID 157's operator)
Possible conflicts
Schwartz, Page & Harding, L.L.P. (SPH): SPH is general counsel to both WCID 159 and WCID 157, which were disputing an invoice for IPS No. 4; the minutes do not record a waiver or separate counsel. (Consultant schedules in the audits of WCID 157 (HCWCID-157-Audit-Report-FYE-May-31-2025.pdf, PDF p.60) and WCID 159 (HC_WCID_No_159_2025_FS_Final.pdf, PDF p.52); minutes p.4)
BGE, Inc.: BGE is engineer to both districts on IPS No. 4 work. (Consultant schedules in the audits of WCID 157 (HCWCID-157-Audit-Report-FYE-May-31-2025.pdf, PDF p.60) and WCID 159 (HC_WCID_No_159_2025_FS_Final.pdf, PDF p.52))
Money or costs moved
HCWCID 159 → Harris County WCID No. 157 October 2024 invoice for regular operations and repairs of IPS No. 4; WCID 159 voided check no. 4037 and replied by letter (p.4). WCID 159's FY2027 budget carries $92,000 for 'Maintenance & Repair - IP4' (FY2026: $55,000 budget, $61,964 actual through April).
Why the board approved it
Recorded: “WCID 157 letter of Apr. 13, 2026 requested payment; the reply letter is in Exhibit G (p.4).”
The position taken and its basis are in an unposted letter. Each district's cost of IPS No. 4 depends on an operating arrangement that is not in the record.